Papers of Isaiah Brookes Jones

The collection includes the journals of Isaiah Brookes Jones with entries dating from 1905 - 1907 and 1907 May 8 - 1907 November 1924. They contain interesting accounts of his life amongst the Cree Indians. Also included is his diary, in the format of a letter to his mother and brother, Ezra, of his journey from Liverpool to Lenore, Canada.

There are letters, to and from Isaiah Brookes Jones and his family, 1905 - 1907; sermons in Welsh and English; a photograph of Isaiah with and Indian dignitary and an Indian boy in 1907; obituary notices and newspaper cuttings and an example of the written Cree language.

Born in Llanfair Talhaearn, Denbighshire in 1884, Isaiah Brookes Jones moved with his mother to Colwyn Bay at a very young age following the death of his father. The religious revival of 1904 was the stimulus behind his decision to become a missionary. In 1905 he was accepted by the Assiniboia Conference of the Methodist Church of Canada and began his work as a missionary amongst the Indians in Lenore in the province of Manitoba, Canada.

In October 1907, he moved to Winnipeg to study for a degree in Divinity at Wesley College. He joined the Y.M.C.A. in November of that year so that he could learn to swim in their swimming pool since his missionary work would require him to travel lake Winnipeg by canoe. On 28 November 1907, Isaiah Brookes Jones was found drowned in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool. He was 23 years of age.

The papers have been arranged chronologically and are incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts.

Open to all users.

Donated by Mr W.T. Owen, Old Colwyn and Mrs Marian Giles Jones, wife of the former Archivist of the University of Wales Bangor.

Description compiled by Elen Wyn Hughes, August 2001

An item level catalogue is available at the Department of Manuscripts of the University of Wales Bangor. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 18341 - 18416, 20584, 29380 - 29390

Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.

Jones, Marian Giles, Taith I'r Gorllewin Pell gan Isaiah Brookes Jones (1884 - 1907), Yr Eurgrawn, 1967